Mike Ferguson - Website Design For Small Business

The Benefits Of A Small Business Website

A professional website transforms how small businesses connect with customers in their local area. Beyond basic visibility, websites build trust before the first interaction, capture leads 24/7, and simplify customer communication. With 97% of consumers searching online for local businesses, a well-designed WordPress site provides measurable ROI through increased visibility, automated lead generation, and reduced time answering repetitive questions. Local SEO optimization ensures your business appears when nearby customers search for your services. The Reality of Running a Business Without a Website You've probably heard it before - "every business needs a website." But let's talk about what that actually means for your day-to-day operations and bottom line. Want to learn more about what makes an effective small business website? Give the team at The Affordable Web Guy a call today for a free, no-pressure consultation chat. Seriously...no hard sell. Right now, when someone hears about your business from a friend or sees your truck driving by, their first instinct is to look you up online. According to BrightLocal's 2023 Consumer Review Survey, 98% of consumers used the internet to find information about local businesses. If you're not there, that potential customer moves on to someone who is. What a Website Actually Does for Your Business You Get Found When People Are Looking Think about your own behavior when you need something. You probably pull out your phone and search "plumber near me" or "best pizza in [your town]." Your customers do the exact same thing. A website puts you in those search results. Without one, you're invisible to anyone who doesn't already know you exist. And here's the thing - Google My Business listings help, but they're not enough on their own. A website gives you control over your message and lets you rank for [...]

By Mike Ferguson|Categories: Affordable Web Marketing, Cost-Effectiveness of Online Marketing, Internet Marketing|Comments Off

Essential Website Statistics for Small Businesses

Running a small business means making smart choices with limited resources. However, when it comes to your online presence, the numbers don't lie – having a professional website isn't just nice to have anymore. Moreover, these statistics show exactly why your business needs to take its web presence seriously. Ready to get started? Contact us about website design with a no-pressure web design consultation. The Reality Check: Where Small Businesses Stand Online According to recent research, only 73% of small businesses currently have websites. Meanwhile, Clutch's 2025 study reveals that 83% of small businesses now have a website, up from 64% in 2018. Furthermore, this gap represents missed opportunities every single day. Notably, business owners are finally recognizing what the data has been telling us all along. Additionally, consumers increasingly expect to find businesses online before making contact or visiting in person. The Affordable Web Guy helps small businesses bridge this gap with WordPress-based solutions that put your business where customers expect to find you. Mobile Traffic Dominates Website Design Decisions First impressions happen fast online, especially on mobile devices. Statistics show that mobile devices now account for approximately 59-63% of global website traffic, according to multiple data sources including Statista and Chrome User Experience reports. Professional web design services understand these mobile requirements. The Affordable Web Guy creates responsive WordPress sites that look great and function smoothly across all devices. Website Speed Can't Be Ignored Website loading speed directly impacts business opportunities. Research shows that the average web page load time is 2.5 seconds on desktop and 8.6 seconds on mobile. Furthermore, according to website performance data, pages on mobile devices take approximately 71% longer to load than desktop versions. Additionally, Google considers 2 seconds or less optimal for page load times, particularly for eCommerce [...]

By Mike Ferguson|Categories: Affordable Web Marketing, competitor research, Digital Marketing for Startups|Comments Off

5 Proven Small Business Marketing Strategies That Thrive During Economic Uncertainty

Small business marketing tips for an uncertain economy: Discover effective strategies to navigate challenging times and boost your business's success.

By Mike Ferguson|Categories: Small business marketing|Comments Off

Why Your Denver Roofing Business Needs More Than Just Good Work to Get Customers

Roofing companies face some of the highest customer acquisition costs in the home services sector, with Google Ads leads alone averaging around $187 per lead—and that's just one way people find contractors these days. The truth is, most homeowners don't flip through phone books anymore when their roof starts leaking. They grab their phone and search for "roofers near me." If you're a solid roofer but your phone isn't ringing much, the problem probably isn't your skills. It's that people can't find you when they need you most. Question: If someone in your neighborhood searched for a roofer right now, would they find you online? Don't take that chance. Contact The Affordable Web Guy and find out why business owners have trusted us for decades! Your Website Works While You Sleep Think about it this way: when someone's ceiling starts dripping at 10 PM on a Tuesday, they're not calling anyone right then. But they are searching online to see who's available in their area. 46% of Google searches are local, which means millions of people every day are looking for businesses like yours in their neighborhood. A simple, professional website from The Affordable Web Guy becomes your 24/7 salesperson. While you're home having dinner or sleeping, your site is showing up in searches, displaying your contact info, and giving potential customers confidence that you're legit and local. Building Relationships Without Being Pushy The best roofing leads often come from relationships with other local businesses. Maybe the hardware store owner mentions your name, or a real estate agent includes your info when someone buys a house that needs work. But here's the thing—when someone gets a recommendation, the first thing they do is look you up online. 97% of people learn more about a local company online than anywhere [...]

By Mike Ferguson|Categories: competitor research, Cost-Effectiveness of Online Marketing|Comments Off

Boost Your Business with a Website, Social Media, and More

Small business owners today face exciting opportunities online. However, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming when you're juggling daily operations alongside marketing your business. Smart online marketing doesn't require a massive budget or technical expertise – just the right approach and professional support. Your Website: The Foundation That Works 24/7 A professional website serves as your digital storefront, working around the clock to attract customers. Unlike physical locations, your website never closes and can reach potential customers while you sleep. WordPress-based websites offer the perfect balance of functionality and reliability for growing businesses. Business owners often underestimate how quickly a professional website pays for itself. When customers can find information about your services online, they're more likely to contact you during business hours. Additionally, search engines favor businesses with well-designed websites, helping you appear when local customers search for your services. Social Media That Actually Drives Business Social media marketing works best when it connects directly to your business goals. Rather than posting randomly, successful businesses use social platforms to showcase their expertise and build relationships with potential customers. Each platform offers unique advantages for reaching different audience segments. Facebook remains powerful for local businesses because it allows detailed targeting by location and interests. Meanwhile, Instagram works well for visually appealing businesses, while LinkedIn helps service-based companies connect with professional clients. The key lies in choosing the right platforms where your customers spend time. Converting Visitors Into Paying Customers Website visitors need gentle guidance to become customers. Strategic placement of contact forms, phone numbers, and service descriptions helps interested prospects take the next step. However, too many businesses make this process complicated or confusing. Simple contact methods work better than complex forms. When visitors can easily find your phone number or request a quote, they're more likely to [...]

By Mike Ferguson|Categories: Affordable Web Marketing, Internet Marketing, Lead Generation Strategies, social media marketing|Comments Off

Digital Marketing for Startups: Strategies and SEO Importance

Why Digital Marketing Matters for Startups Digital marketing helps put a business on the map. Many potential customers look online before contacting you. With a dependable WordPress site, local business owners can quietly lay the groundwork for long-term visibility. Good content, search visibility, and a reliable presence work together to build trust—even when nobody’s glancing at analytics. What SEO Does for Your Startup SEO helps people find your site when they search for local services. It isn’t a magic trick, and results take time. Still, a well-organized WordPress site, maintained by The Affordable Web Guy, brings a friendly boost in visibility—and credibility—without burdening the owner with technical details. This kind of presence gently signals that the business is real and ready. Key Strategies That Actually Matter Mixing a few thoughtful steps helps without turning the site into a complicated project: Have a WordPress-based site maintained by The Affordable Web Guy Use clear, helpful words about services and local area Add relevant content—like simple blog posts that answer client questions Let the site quietly support credibility and search visibility Why It Works Writing useful content that aligns with what people commonly search—like service descriptions or location-based phrases—helps visibility over time. A maintained site keeps things fresh, reflects your message, and gives search engines a chance to understand who you are. Looking ahead, AI-driven tools will change how searches work, meaning that thoughtful, conversational web content will make your site more likely to answer new-style queries. Keeping things organic and helpful prepares the way for that shift

By Mike Ferguson|Categories: Digital Marketing for Startups|Comments Off

Success Stories of Small Businesses Using Digital Marketing

Looking for success stories of small businesses using digital marketing? Check out these top 10 tips to help improve your online presence and drive sales. Plus, explore FutureLearn's digital marketing courses for further learning.

By Mike Ferguson|Categories: competitor research, customer communication, online reputation|Comments Off

Small Business Marketing in Denver: Why Paid Search Actually Works

Running a small business in Denver means competing with everyone else who's figured out this city is pretty great for entrepreneurs. According to recent state data, Colorado started 48,600 new businesses just in the first quarter of 2025—that's a 19% jump from the previous quarter. While this energy is exciting, it also means you're fighting for attention in an increasingly crowded market. Need help creating a website that supports your paid search campaigns? The Affordable Web Guy specializes in building small business websites that convert visitors into customers. Based in Colorado, we understand the local market and can help your business get found online. So how do you cut through the noise? Let's talk about paid search advertising, which isn't the sexiest topic but happens to be one of the most reliable ways to get your business in front of people who are actually looking for what you sell. What Makes Paid Search Different From Other Marketing Paid search (also called pay-per-click or PPC) works because it shows your ad to people who are already searching for your services. Unlike throwing money at a billboard and hoping the right person drives by, paid search targets folks who are actively typing things like "plumber near me" or "Denver marketing consultant" into Google. The numbers tell a pretty clear story. Businesses using paid search see conversion rates that are 50% higher than people who find them through organic search results. Plus, 65% of high-intent searches end with someone clicking on an ad rather than scrolling down to the organic results. This isn't about tricking anyone—it's about being visible when someone needs exactly what you offer. Why Denver Businesses Should Care About This Right Now Colorado's business landscape is shifting fast, and timing matters. 99.5% of all Colorado businesses are small businesses, [...]

By Mike Ferguson|Categories: Cost-Effectiveness of Online Marketing, Need for Digital Marketing, Online Marketing Strategy|Comments Off

The Power of Video & Getting More Customers

Discover the power of video marketing for small businesses. Learn about the various types of corporate videos that can enhance customer outreach and internal communications while increasing brand awareness and expanding your customer base.

By Mike Ferguson|Categories: Promotional Videos, Screencast Videos, Social Media Videos|Comments Off

University of Arkansas Marketing Genius

Sometimes A Great Idea Is Right In Front Of You! Small Business Insights: Marketing A while back I went to my first University of Arkansas football game. It was a spectacular fall day...too warm for November 1st, that's for sure. As we made our way to the cheap seats, we made the obligatory stop at the concession stand for an $8 souvenir mug of Diet Coke and a hot dog. Once seated, we immediately took to eating our almost entirely tasteless "meal" of encased meat--it was a spectacularly bland dog. But just as the first wave of belches began to percolate in my still hungry gut it occurred to me: how was it possible that the vendors within this glorious steel and concrete shrine to Razorback pigs had missed the marketing gold that is (insert drumroll here): "Hawg Dog?" For those of you not living in "The Natural State" of Arkansas (where there is no formal recycling plan; turns out "Natural" is a slogan but not an actual strategy--who knew!), "hawg" is a recognized and oft used alternate spelling of "hog." Using the name "Hawg/Hog Dog" is so spectacularly obvious. Perhaps there's copyright afoot and they're not allowed to use "Hawg/Hog Dog". But c'mon--if you're savvy enough to sell me an $8 Diet Coke, then let's run with that ball and score the clear touchdown that IS the "Hawg/Hog Dog"

By Mike Ferguson|Categories: Internet Marketing|Comments Off

About Mike Ferguson

(720) 780-9998